Lepas, Chery's newest brand, wants to change how British motorists think about Chinese cars. Its pitch is that intelligent technology, elegant design and comfort can come together in a car that says something about its owner. I drove the pre-production Lepas L6 EV in China to see whether that promise holds up - and it largely does. It's comfortable, effortless and quick enough to feel punchy, even if the steering isn't perfect.
Chery and its sister brands already offer stylish, well-equipped vehicles, so why does the world need Lepas? I put that question to Zhong Wei, deputy CEO of Lepas and part of the team shaping the brand, at Chery's 2026 International User Summit in Wuhu. There, Lepas set out its international expansion plans and unveiled the Aura concept car.
Why did Chery create Lepas?
For Mr Zhong, the brand reflects a shift in what buyers want. As consumers become more discerning, he says, they look for a car that expresses their personality and taste, not just one that gets them from A to B.
Chery's existing brands, he explained, can't satisfy every customer in the same way, so the company created a marque with its own identity and priorities. Lepas is positioned around what he calls an elegant lifestyle: new-energy vehicles, intelligent technology and a more considered ownership experience.
Turning that into something tangible starts with the product. Design sets the marque's character, technology makes the car easier to drive and live with, and comfort keeps occupants relaxed in the driver's seat or the back. It's an approach that favours the overall experience over any single specification or performance figure.
That matters because Chinese manufacturers are increasingly competing on more than price and equipment, and are working to build distinctive identities in European markets. Lepas wants its own space within the Chery Group, pairing the group's engineering strength with a design philosophy and driving experience aimed at its intended customers.
The challenge is proving that distinction on the road.
Driving the Lepas L8 and L6 EV
My first taste came before the trip, driving the Lepas L8, a large five-seat plug-in hybrid SUV, at its UK launch in the summer, and more recently to London Heathrow to catch my flight to China. Then, I spent two days at the wheel of the Lepas L6 EV, travelling from Shanghai on the central coast to Wuhu, on the southeastern bank of the Yangtze River and the global headquarters of Chery Automobile.
Both cars were inviting places to spend time. The bigger question is whether that appeal can become a convincing alternative to established European marques.
The L6 EV I drove was a pre-production, Chinese-market car, blending the two main trim levels, Essence and Elevate. It seemed to have lots of tech on board, but came with fabric upholstery rather than the leather-effect upholstery you get in the flagship Elevate.
Lepas L6 EV first drive: comfortable, effortless and punchy
The L6 EV was comfortable throughout our trip, and effortless to drive on multi-lane expressways, across the plains of the Yangtze River Delta and on scenic mountain roads. It's punchy too.
The steering feels a little artificial. British and European drivers are most likely to notice this, since they may expect a car to drive differently from customers in China, and steering feel, suspension tuning, and refinement will be crucial to Lepas's credibility in the UK. As a family car, though, you'll have no problems. Five fit in very well, and four adults would be even more comfortable.
The L6 EV will be Lepas's next UK model after the L8, and its first fully electric one. Its clean styling, technology-led interior and electric powertrain are meant to show how the brand's philosophy works in a production car.
Lepas L6 EV specs
The L6 EV uses a 65kWh battery and features a 217PS electric motor. It delivers 275Nm of torque, enabling acceleration from 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds, and has an electric range of up to 279 miles.
Lepas L6 EV technology and trims
On-board technology includes a 13.2-inch central touchscreen, an 8.88-inch digital driver display and the "Hello Lepas" AI-powered voice assistant. As already mentioned, there are two main trim levels, Essence and Elevate. Both offer 50W wireless smartphone charging, a 540-degree panoramic camera, and 22 driver-assistance functions.
As alluded to earlier, the flagship Elevate adds leather-effect upholstery, a Sony eight-speaker audio system, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, and advanced and remote parking assistance.
Lepas L6 EV price: what to expect
Pricing hasn't been officially announced yet. As an educated guess, expect the L6 EV to start from the low £30,000s.
What does "elegance" mean for Lepas?
Elegance comes up constantly in Lepas presentations, though the marque insists it means more than handsome bodywork and a smart cabin. Comfort and intelligent features are meant to make journeys feel effortless, and the L6 EV met that aim on our drive.
Lepas design: why a leopard?
The Lepas design language draws on the leopard, chosen for its agility, fitness and controlled movement. It's an unusual starting point for an elegant brand, since leopards are predators and can suggest aggression as readily as grace. Lepas's designers, however, focus on the animal's athleticism rather than its ferocity, aiming for confidence without confrontation.
Ivan Dulanovic, chief designer at Lepas, told me the brand is deliberately pursuing a friendly look, with flowing surfaces and carefully judged proportions rather than sharp, aggressive styling. He believes elegance has a visual language that is recognisable across cultures. That can create similarities between cars, since designers often work from shared ideas of proportion and beauty. Still, he argues that distinctive identities emerge over time as manufacturers refine their own interpretations. Established European marques, he points out, didn't develop their design languages overnight.
The Lepas Aura concept car: design details
Aura is a concept car, and Lepas has no production plans for it as yet. It does show where the brand’s journey could lead, though. According to Lepas, its design team studied how a leopard shifts its weight and holds tension in its muscles, whether resting, stalking or running, and carried that thinking into the car's proportions. A long wheelbase and wide stance give the Aura a confident, grounded presence.
Pronounced shoulder lines evoke the cat's muscular strength, while flowing surfaces and the headlamps' gaze add composure and a touch of mystery. Lepas calls the overall effect the understated power of "Leopard Aesthetics".
Aura also carries forward the brand's porcelain-inspired design. Sculpted volumes and flowing surfaces are finished in a glossy paint that accentuates the car's form, and the interplay of surface tension and fluid lines is meant to give that wide stance both strength and refinement. Integrated air channels follow the body's contours to guide airflow, so form and function work together.
For now, Lepas's priority is to win credibility with international customers before developing a more individual look. Aura suggests the brand already knows what that look should be.